LV Life

KULV reserves alternative format

When listeners phone in to KULV, their conversations are usually recorded and edited to fit the music format or time frame allotted to the disc jockey. KULV's Production Director Dan Le can now use the new Short Cut 360 editing system as a faster way to broadcast callers. Students that are in pursuit of a career in radio can gain more experience by using this device. / photo by Natalie Fowle
When listeners phone in to KULV, their conversations are usually recorded and edited to fit the music format or time frame allotted to the disc jockey. KULV’s Production Director Dan Le can now use the new Short Cut 360 editing system as a faster way to broadcast callers. Students that are in pursuit of a career in radio can gain more experience by using this device. / photo by Natalie Fowle

by Tom Galaraga
Staff Writer

Amongst the intolerable levels of white noise being blasted through speakers that lack the wattage to compensate for the Student Center’s poor acoustics, KULV broadcasts its signal to a diversified student body.

However, the students seem to have little, if any effect on KULV’s programming.

While an entire sub-culture and independent music scene’s survival relies heavily upon the support it receives from college radio stations, the University of La Verne’s KULV radio station opts for a more mainstream and corporate rock-oriented format.

The independent music scene has always contained various genres including emo/indie rock, punk/hardcore, hip-hop/R&B and electronica.

Granted airplay from college radio stations such as the Claremont Colleges KSPC and the University of California at Irvine’s KUCI, allowed for the independent and underground music scene to thrive. Many radio stations including KSPC and KUCI offer a variety of show formats in a block schedule to cater to the diversity of the college.

For years, many college radio stations have not only served as a catalyst to expose people to various cultures and lifestyles, but also served as a means to demonstrate the diversity of the respective college.

ULV, who prides itself on the diversity of the campus, does little to offer diverse radio programming for the students.

“The format is definitely unfair. Due to the fact that this is a diverse school, music should be diverse as well,” Jelani Kimble, senior communications major and KULV DJ said. “They should change the format to top 40 of everything. More than one genre of music.”

With the single modern/ alternative rock format, station manager Michael Laponis says that the broadcast department is better preparing students for a career in radio. Very seldom are stations found that offer a block schedule.

“Format has nothing to do with getting jobs, it’s the fact we operate the station on a professional level,” said Laponis.

While Laponis says the main purpose of KULV is to serve as a lab to offer broadcast majors experience in the fundamentals of how a radio station works, students such as Kimble believe the station should still provide enough programming diversity for the entire campus population.

This includes offering radio airplay for unsigned and independent artists.

“The independent music scene has always offered new and original sounding bands and performers,” sophomore Jon Falabrino said. “It offers more intelligent music.”

Independent music as it is, entails not only the musical aspects behind the performers, but also brings strong communal ties to the radio stations and the artists they promote.

Performers including emo/ indie rock band Sunny Day Real Estate and hip hop artists such as Jurassic Five, built up their strong followings with the support and attention college radio stations offered.With KULV’s current format, these artists would not be granted any airplay.

“Independent artists already have a hard enough time getting radio airplay from bigger radio stations, college radio should be a way for them to get exposure,” Kimble said.

By offering a variety of radio shows, students are able to hear a wider range of music on a single station and experience new styles of music, said Falabrino.

According to Program Director Michelle Bocanegra, KULV’s play lists are a direct reflection of weekly retail sales, Radio and Records magazine, College Media Journal, and other radio stations play lists.

While Laponis said he believes college radio should serve the student body, he also believes that offering a variety of shows or block scheduling would inhibit the broadcasting department’s ability to prepare students for careers outside of college.

“We have a radio and broadcast curriculum, [the] reason is for people to use this as a lab for experience,” Laponis said.

Although ULV’s current format offers little diversity in genres of music, it does however offer a variety of shows including local news, sports, and public affairs shows.

While the broadcast department and KULV offer a strong curriculum that prepares students for future careers in radio, it does however lack the diversity that the University mission statement takes so much pride in.

With limited bandwidth, KULV The Rock, broadcasts its static signal to a Student Center filled with people too diverse to be pleased with a single format.

Tom Galaraga, Assistant Managing Editor
Tom Galaraga
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Natalie Fowle, Photography Editor
Natalie Fowle
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